How to be a good dictator: dress like Michael Jackson...

this story from TMZ.com is Off The Wall!!



Gotham Chopra - friend of MJ - has claimed that the release of North-Korean-imprisoned prisoners Laura Ling and Euna Lee hinged on one question: Is Kim Jong Il a "Thriller" fan? Chopra, also a friend of both American reporters, says Jackson called him three weeks ago asking how he could help. Jackson thought Jong Il would let them go if he talked to him ... provided the North Korean leader was a fan.

One reason why Michael thought Jong Il could be a devotee: "You know, he wears jackets like mine."

Gotham told Jackson he'd look into it -- but Michael died before the plan could get off the ground.

Park Ji Sung is to North Korea as Gary McKay is to the Republic of Ireland!!

__
The North Korean soccer team have achieved the impossible by qualifying for 2010 World Cup. By holding out for a nil-all draw in their final qualifier against Saudi Arabia, the North Koreans have qualified for their first FIFA World Cup since their impressive showing in 1966:



This is thanks in no small part to NK goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk - who kept a clean sheet for the fourth time in five games - but also to South Korea & Manchester United's Park Ji Sung, whose 81st minute leveller in the South's own qualifier against Iran ensured the North Koreans held on to 2nd place in the group and avoided a play-off against both Bahrain and New Zealand. Having qualified 2 weeks ago, South Korea really lent a helping hand to the Secret State by drawing both their remaining meaningless games to keep NK's dream of automatic qualification alive.. Shades of Gary McKay's dig out for Jack Charlton in our Euro '88 qualifying campaign spring to mind, although its unlikely that Park Ji Sung would be received as openly in Pyongyang as McKay is this side of the Irish Sea!

This article in today's Indy imagines the scenario should the USA be drawn in North Korea's group in South Africa (Stranger things have happened...)

Speaking of Ji Sung Park, here he is "having a laugh" with Patrice Evra and "Carlito" Tevez - Go on the lads!!